2006 JCCI Forward Annual Report

2005-2006 FINAL REPORT

July 14, 2006

About JCCI Forward Established in July of 2000, JCCI Forward is an initiative of Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) that seeks to engage men and women ages 25-45 in civic involvement and to prepare them for their future roles as community leaders. JCCI Forward is an ideal way to interact with city leaders, to experience leadership development, and to build a network of friends and associates who all share the common goal of improving our community.

Mission To empower emerging leaders and community-minded individuals to affect positive change in Northeast Florida through a platform of results-oriented issue forums and leadership development programs. (Rev. 5/06)

Activities & Events JCCI Forward provides the information, tools, and resources needed to develop strong leadership skills and to help affect positive change in our community. Like JCCI, JCCI Forward hosts its own community forums and workshops, all with the three-fold aim of studying the issues which are central to our community’s growth, providing an opportunity to meet, interact and work with our community’s existing leadership structure, and focusing on the skills critical to assuming a leadership role in our community’s future.

Issue Forums Issue Forums offer participants a venue to interact with respected community leaders and resource experts on issues of concern to Northeast Florida's citizens. Participants explore issues critical to the community's growth, seek understanding of related problems, and come to consensus on proposed action plans that can be implemented locally.

Leadership Development Workshops Leadership Development Workshops are half-day seminars devoted to keeping JCCI Forward members involved, engaged, and connected to our community. These workshops offer a foundation for leadership skills by offering members the opportunity to learn and better understand the community in which we live through expect presenters in their fields of endeavor.

Training Sessions Training sessions offer JCCI Forward members opportunities to learn and improve their leadership skills, such as facilitation, consensus-building, and how to run effective meetings. Four new trainings were added to this year’s program.

Leadership Opportunities While JCCI Forward is supported by JCCI, it maintains an Executive Committee and several established committees that offer opportunities for individuals to get involved and hold leadership positions. Additionally, Issue Forum Management Teams provide participants with hands-on planning experience.

Other Events Networking Socials allow members to connect with each other, strengthen relationships, and learn more about JCCI Forward. Mystery Guest Lunches provide participants with access to local leaders in the intimate setting of lunch with a community leader. Food For Thought gatherings offer an additional way for members to connect, network, and discuss community issues.

JCCI Forward 2005-06 Final Report – June 1, 06

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Issue Forum Creative Community: What’s in it for us?

To help find the answer to this question, the Issue Forum Committee explored how citizens can support, encourage and appreciate artists in order to cultivate a creatively vibrant community. Participants heard from art consultants, patrons, government, community organizations, and artists themselves. Additionally, the committee wanted to understand the relationship between art and a vibrant community: Why should we support artists and art in Jacksonville? What’s in it for me, for us? (Note: Please refer to individual issue forum reports for respective key findings.)

Action Goals & Strategies The Committee identified 5 key areas for action to cultivate a creatively vibrant community: Improve funding for artists & projects Increase media advertising and promotion of arts in Jacksonville Create a comprehensive website for the arts and artists Encourage an Arts Savvy Community Create a funky fabulous touristy centrally located 8-block Arts District for Downtown Jacksonville Several groups are currently working to create an organization for area artists and address the above action items.

Forum Participants: Rosalind Marshall, Chair Jennifer Mansfield, Vice Chair Committee Members (attended two or more meetings) Karen Barnes * Scott Chadwell Toni Chadwell Michael Connolly * Susan Demato * Nofa Dixon * Tiffany Duhart Annelies Dykgraaf Sarah Gay * Henry Gonzales Cameron Hartley

* Management Team

Marsha Hatcher Amy Hays Holliman Linda Johnson June Lundy Gil Mayers Heather McEachen Megan Mickler Nancy Murrey Joseph Nairon Marvin Reese Valerie Rubin

Resource Speakers: Scott Abrams - Director, Improv Jacksonville Comedy Theatre Anthony Allegretti - Arts Advocate and Special Assistant to the Mayor Louise Freshman Brown – Artist and teacher Ingar Brunnett – Melt Into Arts, Inc., cultural planning consultant Michael Corrigan – City Council Vice President, Council District 14 Preston Haskell - The Haskell Company, patron of the arts Jacque Holmes – Consultant, Art in Public Places and Fine Arts Advisor Alan Hopper - Executive Director, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra Princess Rashid –Visual artist Suzanne Saltmarsh – Dancer & choreographer Warren Skeels - Director, Tigerlily Media Tri Vu – TTV Architects, Inc., architect and artist Robert White - Executive Director, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville Dot Wilder –Jazz singer

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Tonya Smart Lou Gena Smith Suzzette Solano LydiaStewart* Tatyana Ta Laurence Walden Marjorie Weibe-Reed

Issue Forum Streetscape to Skyline: Do we need higher design standards?

For this Issue Forum, a citizen committee met with resource speakers from the community to discuss the past, present, and evolving development of downtown Jacksonville. Expert resource speakers from public and private spheres--City Council, City staff, developers, architects--addressed the committee and shared their knowledge, experience, and vision.

Their presentations centered on these questions: What design standards do we currently have in place? Do we need higher design standards for our downtown core? (Note: Please refer to individual issue forum reports for respective key findings.)

Action Goals and Strategies Short-term Goals: 1) Presentation of Key Findings to the city of Jacksonville’s Design Review Committee (DRC) for higher design standards for Jacksonville; and 2) to improve clarity in DRC’s role, openness for community participation, stronger mix of design-oriented professionals serving on the DRC, and greater enforceability of DRC actions.

Longer-term Strategy: Propose a specific project based on the higher design standards discussed in the Findings and act as a catalyst and a convener to get good/better projects built. Specific strategies including the possibility of design competitions; partnering with existing efforts, such as Emerging Architects and Downtown Vision; and working on a potential site for a river park.

Forum Participants Martin Edwards, Chair Heather McEachen, Vice Chair Committee Members (attended two or more meetings) * Management Team John Allmand * Oliver Barakat * Steve Congro Kay Ehas Ron Gay Amy Harrell * Daniel Herbin Rachel Johnson Meredith Klein

Steve Kowkabany Chris Kuhn * Jeff MacFarlan Jennifer Mansfield Mike McCollum * Amy Miller Cynthia Neal Vitina Pellot, Issue Forums Chair

Susan Pitman Aaron Plewke Marvin Reese Lisa Sheppard * Rhonda Williams

Resource Speakers Mike Balanky – Developer Oliver Barakat - Design Review Committee Member & Commercial Real Estate Broker, CB Richard Ellis Susan Cleveland, LEED AP – U.S. Green Building Council, North Florida John J. "Jack" Diamond, FAIA - Rink Design Partnership Thomas O. Ingram – Pappas Metcalf Jenks & Miller, P.A. Suzanne Jenkins - City Council Member, Jacksonville Eric Lindstrom - City of Jacksonville, Economic Development Commission Terry Lorince – Executive Director, Downtown Vision, Inc. Ted Pappas - PBV Architecture Mike Shalley – Vice-president, St Joe Company Mike Saylor, AICP – Director of Planning & Development, City of Jacksonville

Leadership Development Workshops The Time in Your Life Successfully Managing Work, Family, and Community December 13, 2005 This half-day seminar provided a unique opportunity to hear local leaders share their professional knowledge and personal experiences about how they plan and organize their lives to balance work and family with community interests. Trainer Ray White, One Source Leadership, offered valuable information about how to manage your time into four levels of importance and then addressed the time bandits that steal your time and efficiency. John Delaney, Keynote Speaker spoke to his experience in balancing his family life, with his work and service to the community.

The exemplar panel, Sonny Bhikha, Elaine Brown, Dea Sims brought into perspective how they continue to do community work and still excel in business and family life.

EXTRA! EXTRA! (Get others to) Read All About It! May 12, 2006 During this half-day seminar, local media experts shared their knowledge and experience with Forward members in how to best reach your target market with your message. Keynote speaker, Susan Adams Loyd (Fox 30/CBS 47) was followed by a panel of media veterans, Staci Spanos (WJXT), Tom Patton (WJCT), Scott Butler (Florida Times-Union) and Liz Morgan (Public Relations).

The afternoon concluded with two break-out workshops on How to Prepare for an Interview with Kevin Meerschaert (WJCT) and How to Write an Great Press Release with Sylvia Perry (The Jacksonville Free Press). Participants received a Media Toolkit that provided them with valuable information of how to get your message to the media effectively and efficiently.

Other Activities

Strategic Thinking, Planning and Implementation Following last year’s Looking Back and Looking Forward, and this year’s JCCI Strategic Planning in spring 2006, the Forward Executive Committee decided to take a strategic look at Forward’s future.

Last year Forward celebrated it’s 5th year anniversary. Now it was time to look 5 years into the future.

John Spence served as organization consultant and facilitator for the leadership survey and strategic planning meeting. A focused direction was set agreed upon, calling for more community action and implementation of Forward’s issue forums. A revised mission statement was drafted and accepted by the JCCI Board in May 2006. The Strategic Implementation Team has met and completed its recommendations to the Executive Committee to move Forward in it’s strategic direction for 20062011.

Community Leadership Development Leadership training sessions name core and additional trainings from Training committee Two core plus Conflict Resolution – Lois Chepenik How to Read a Financial Statement – Fionnuala Geoghegan Strategic Planning – Jana Ertrachter Action Planning – Jana Ertrachter Motivating and Retaining Volunteers – Rachal Wical

Social Events A variety of social events held throughout the year offered additional opportunities to JCCI Forward participants. Socials allowed members to connect with each other, strengthen relationships, and learn more about JCCI Forward. Mystery Guest Lunches provided participants with access to local leaders in the intimate setting of lunch with Executive Director Skip Cramer and a local community leader as the "mystery guest”. Food For Thought gatherings gave participants the opportunity to network and discuss topics of the day, such as Katrina and the Racial Divide, Affordable Housing for Downtown Jacksonville, Is Jacksonville Artsy?, and The Landing, Public or Private? Food for Thought is held in various city locations for participants. This year’s events took place at a member’s home, at the Sushi Café, The Copper Cellar, and the Blue Bamboo.

Mystery Guests Neil Armingeon - St. Johns Riverkeeper Kevin Hyde - President, City Council Martha C. Valdez-Pellino - Chair, Mayor’s Hispanic American Advisory Board Sherry P. Magill - President Jessie Ball DuPont Fund Maarten van de Guchte - Director Cummer Art Gallery and Gardens Rick Ferrin - Director JaxPort

Stay Tuned…

JCCI Forward is planning its upcoming calendar year, including its next series of Issue Forums and workshops. Current JCCI Forward members and the general public are encouraged to participate in the 2006-2007 events and activities. More information can be found on the JCCI Forward website at: http://www.jcci.org/forward.

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Major Community Supporters BellSouth, Visionary Sponsor The City of Jacksonville

Support for Activities Issue Forums Creative Community Liberty Properties Streetscape to Skyline Office Environments and Services King Engineering Associates, Inc. The Stellar Group

Leadership Development Workshops The Time in Your Life!

The Auchter Company EXTRA! EXTRA! Interline Brands Auld & White

Social Events Jacksonville Association of Firefighters (1) Gresham, Smith, and Partners (3)

Trainings & Facilitation Volunteers Jana Ertrachter, Ertrachter Group John Spence, Flycaster & Company Rachel Wical, leadership trainer Ray White, One Source, Inc.

In-Kind Contributions Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Town Center Biscotti’s Boomtown The Florida Times-Union The Florida Theatre Good Things by Good Friends Herb n’ Chef Personal Chef Service Hovan Gourmet Restaurant Improv Jacksonville Comedy Players & Theatre Jacksonville Magazine Anonymous donor

Thank you to all volunteers, resource speakers, and additional supporters for donating their time and resources throughout the year.

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2005-2006 JCCI Forward Committees STANDING COMMITTEES Executive Committee Kay Ehas., Chair Jill Jinks, Chair-elect Fionnuala Geoghegan, Treasurer Amy Hays Holliman, Vice Chair Action Plans Ajani Dunn, Vice Chair Communication & Technology James Holt, Vice Chair Fundraising

Vitina Pellot, Vice Chair Issue Forums Ryan Whitaker, Vice Chair Leadership Development Workshops Jennifer Gornto, Vice Chair Socials Michael Connolly, Vice Chair Recruitment Eric "Brian" Smith, Jr., Immediate Past Chair

Action Plans Committee Amy Hays Holliman, Chair Kay Ehas

Brian Fuller Scott Shine

Oliver Barakat

Communications & Technology Committee Ajani Dunn, Chair Brant Boatright

Dan Fryer Gregory Bruce

Fundraising Committee James Holt, Chair Oliver Barakat Mike Barile

Kay Ehas Melissa Gross-Arnold Bill Kwapil

Issue Forums Vitina Pellot, Chair

Leadership Development Workshops Committee Ryan Whitaker, Chair Heather McEachen Dawn Gilman

Eric “Brian” Smith, Jr. Mitchell Velasco Lauren Weedon

Recruitment Committee Michael Connolly, Chair Elexia Coleman-Moss

Jennifer Mansfield

Social Committee Jennifer Gornto, Chair Brant Boatright

Toni Chadwell Jenna Rowland

Training Committee Jordan Boss, Chair Kay Ehas Heather McEachen Fionnuala Geoghegan

Brian Fuller Jill Jinks John Otterson

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Rachel Wical Amy Whitaker

AD HOC COMMITTEES Nomination Orientation Jill Jinks, Chair

Strategic Thinking and Planning Kay Ehas, Chair Oliver Barakat Michael Connolly

Ajani Dunn Brian Fuller Jennifer Gornto

James Holt Jill Jinks Ryan Whitaker

Strategic Implementation Committee Oliver Barakat, Chair Jordan Boss Michael Connolly

Ajani Dunn Kay Ehas Brian Fuller

Jennifer Gornto Jill Jinks

Thank you to all the volunteers who make this program possible!

JCCI Board Forward Liaison Michael Boylan

JCCI Staff Executive Director: Charles R. “Skip” Cramer Forward Planner: Karen Kempf Administrative Assistant: Esther Hollander Deputy Director: Ben Warner Development Director: Cheryl Murphy Finance Director: Michelle Simkulet Communications Director: Laurie DeWitt

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